I was given a very similar demo as a child in school on a field trip, and I think every kid should. It does an incredible job of representing the unbelievable acceleration of knowledge in recent history.
From what I know, while paper wasn't that expensive an item, it would add up if they drew out each and every piece they make. In the 1570s to the 1640s, normal white paper cost 4 pence per quire (25 sheets). The average laborer making 6-12 pence a day could purchase up to 75 sheets of paper. Again, obviously not a problem. The problem lies in the "literacy", education, and, potentially, mentality. When I say literacy, I mean that they've likely never held a writing utensil. The thought of drawing probably never occurred to them and if it ever did, they'd be so bad at it that it would be viable due to unrefined fine motor function. What I mean by education is this: being a blacksmith myself, the only times I ever draw something is when I want to figure out the dimensions of something. Obviously, blacksmiths of that time dont have that kind of education. They can probably only count how much they're being paid. The rest is just done by "eye balling" Here's how I assume things were done, "Hey, I want this about this long and as wide as my pinky." "Okay." *makes thing* _looks about the right length and our pinkies are about the same size_ Obviously, they'd have many tools and references for lengths but mostly, they go by eyeballing, once you get experienced enough, that's all you need.
They would’ve drawn on the anvil or on a rock or wood board using charcoal or chalk or something similar. Only for specific things though. Most things would be free handed without a design.
8 or 900 degrees centigrade? Centigrade was not invented until a couple thousand years after the Iron Age ended. ...and four heats for a nail? 😣 fun to watch though
To anyone curious, who may think Steve is just taking the piss and being an ass, it’s generally accepted that a good pre-industrial blacksmith could actually do a nail in just one heat, and crank out around 100 per hour or so.
This skips the most important part. How do you smelt the iron and make it into solid piece. Smelting iron is hard, and melting is even harder. In the video you already have metallic iron, and you only make it plastic for forging.
There's very little on this topic. Blooming iron is a lost art. However there are some neat videos out there of it being done, few show the later refinement to an iron bar however. Try it out though it's fun.
Number of nails made in a certain time is one, dependent on the size of nail being forged and two, the experience of the smith. By the 16th century French nail smiths were forging one heat common 6 penny nails at a rate of 1500 per day.
Before the industrial revolution nails would have been the smithys most in demand product.
I was given a very similar demo as a child in school on a field trip, and I think every kid should. It does an incredible job of representing the unbelievable acceleration of knowledge in recent history.
This was perfect to for our homeschool history studies. Thank you so much!
So glad you found it useful. We’ve another Blacksmith video with Ian coming soon!
The memory retention of blacksmiths is no joke. It’s not just all muscle. Super cool to watch.
Did they utilize technical drawings for the products they made, or where all of the designs in their head?
With Ian it’s a very organic process so no written designs no.
If there where any they haven’t survived, or at least not that I know of
as far as my blacksmithing career has gone, they did only draw it to customers to make it spesific to them, then discarded or given to the customer
From what I know, while paper wasn't that expensive an item, it would add up if they drew out each and every piece they make. In the 1570s to the 1640s, normal white paper cost 4 pence per quire (25 sheets). The average laborer making 6-12 pence a day could purchase up to 75 sheets of paper. Again, obviously not a problem. The problem lies in the "literacy", education, and, potentially, mentality.
When I say literacy, I mean that they've likely never held a writing utensil. The thought of drawing probably never occurred to them and if it ever did, they'd be so bad at it that it would be viable due to unrefined fine motor function.
What I mean by education is this: being a blacksmith myself, the only times I ever draw something is when I want to figure out the dimensions of something. Obviously, blacksmiths of that time dont have that kind of education. They can probably only count how much they're being paid. The rest is just done by "eye balling"
Here's how I assume things were done,
"Hey, I want this about this long and as wide as my pinky."
"Okay."
*makes thing*
_looks about the right length and our pinkies are about the same size_
Obviously, they'd have many tools and references for lengths but mostly, they go by eyeballing, once you get experienced enough, that's all you need.
They would’ve drawn on the anvil or on a rock or wood board using charcoal or chalk or something similar. Only for specific things though. Most things would be free handed without a design.
One of the manliest jobs to do
If a midievel sugar loaf helmet is made of 14 gauge high carbon steel will it be safe use rated under the acw imcf regulations for burhurt combat
8 or 900 degrees centigrade? Centigrade was not invented until a couple thousand years after the Iron Age ended.
...and four heats for a nail? 😣 fun to watch though
great the empire was.
which empire?
star wars reference?
someday we will go back to that days.
Wise comment. And I hope you're right.
As long as we keep doing what we're doing.
3 heats for 1 nail? C’mon buddy, first week or wat?
To anyone curious, who may think Steve is just taking the piss and being an ass, it’s generally accepted that a good pre-industrial blacksmith could actually do a nail in just one heat, and crank out around 100 per hour or so.
@@KahlevN thanks for the back up, buddy likely knows where I was coming from. Very likely in the “demonstration” mode it takes up time “chatting”...
2 nails a minute was the norm.
very helpful?
love this history the magnificent of our human ancestor
The dude at the end is my hero
That was cool!
Iron Age blacksmith
Not really. This was a medieval blacksmith, much, much later.
first comment WOO
the second is after the first one...
Hey, we're here
steel mason
So cool
This skips the most important part. How do you smelt the iron and make it into solid piece. Smelting iron is hard, and melting is even harder. In the video you already have metallic iron, and you only make it plastic for forging.
There's very little on this topic. Blooming iron is a lost art. However there are some neat videos out there of it being done, few show the later refinement to an iron bar however. Try it out though it's fun.
Oh look...the original black face. Go figure.
The centrigrade degree is an angle unit. For temperature, I prefer the Celcius degree...
I am so offended by his black face......
Even though I know this is sarcasm I would not be surprised to see someone hold this opinion in all seriousness these days.
@@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32 lmao I don’t even remember making this joke lmao 🤣
the iron is melted in a molt
It's bloomed in a bloom.
@@dr.lexwinter8604 ya
Number of nails made in a certain time is one, dependent on the size of nail being forged and two, the experience of the smith.
By the 16th century French nail smiths were forging one heat common 6 penny nails at a rate of 1500 per day.